Choosing a Pump How Do I Choose a Breast Pump? Wow --that is one of the big questions for breastfeeding mothers today! The good news is that we’re here to try and help you and your family make some sense of all the information out there. Please keep in mind that personal experiences of the people you talk to form their opinions and of course, their recommendations. So what does that mean to you? That means that the pump your friend used and has glowing reports about may not be the pump you need based on your specific situation. People look for a variety of different things in breast pumps, so there really isn’t a “One Pump Fits All” breast pump out there. As you begin your search you will most likely notice that people have their own personal favorite breast pumps. Experiences will vary from person to person or even Lactation Consultant to Lactation Consultant. Honestly, choosing the breast pump that is right for you and your family depends on MANY factors. Too many to summarize in a quick paragraph or two but a few of the factors that should be considered are as follows:
We highly recommend you look past choosing by the name brand and consider all brands for your choice carefully. In the past few years some fantastic breast pump technology has been introduced into the breastfeeding community and it is definitely worth finding out more about. Base your breast pump purchase more on what you need than what you can afford. We don’t mean automatically spend the maximum funds you have available on your breast pump – just look at what the breast pumps offer that are on the market today and find the pump that best suits YOUR family’s needs AND THEN look at cost. Too many mother’s we’ve worked with have wasted their money on the wrong breast pump - then they have had to turn around and buy another one because the first one didn’t fit their needs. We don’t want that to be the case with our clients so we are developing some online tools to help you with choosing which breast pump may be the right one for you and your family! Until the online tool is done and we have added it to our website, please feel free to email our online consultant and she will be happy to assist you. Are There Any Minimum Standards for Breast Pumps? Unfortunately, there are currently no minimum standards for breast pumps even though they are considered a piece of medical equipment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves breast pumps ONLY on the basis of whether or not they are safely designed to be shared among multiple users. If a breast pump is not approved for multiple users it will be labeled as a “single user product”. Even if approved for multiple users by the FDA each mother must use her own new accessories to prevent cross contamination between users. Should There Be Minimum Standards for Breast Pumps? Yes! We believe that a set if minimum standards would eliminate many ineffective, inefficient and unsanitary breast pumps from today’s marketplace. Today, if a mother uses one of these breast pumps she may experience painful milk expression, no milk expression, damaged breast tissue or even an end to the breastfeeding experience earlier than was planned. It is our goal to provide you with enough information to steer you away from these ineffective breast pumps that are on the market today through EDUCATION. Our goal is to see mother’s breastfeeding successfully as long as they want to! What Is Being Done to Get Minimum Standards for Breast Pumps In Place? As of May 2005, Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney of NY drafted The Breastfeeding Promotion Act. This Act would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop minimum quality standards for breast pumps to ensure that they are safe and effective based on efficiency, effectiveness, and sanitation factors (in addition to providing full and complete information concerning breast pump equipment). We are currently investigating the 2007 status of the Breastfeeding Promotion Act. As soon as we have updated information we will be updating the information here so check back regularly. Breast Pumps Don’t Solve Every Problem Buying a breast is not always the answer to every breastfeeding problem. A breast pump is an effective tool when used appropriately. If you are experience ongoing problems or concerns regarding your baby, your breasts or how your breastfeeding experience is going you should contact your local health care professional IMMEDIATELY. A face to face visit with your own health care provider or Lactation Specialist can provide you with the insight you need into the problem and potentially a speedy resolution! Remember…quickly seeking help could make the difference in successfully obtaining your breastfeeding goals with comfort and enjoyment for both you and your baby. Note: We offer helpful advice and guidance to assist our client’s regarding breastfeeding and breast pumps. This advice is not meant as a substitute for professional guidance from YOUR local health care professional and/or Lactation Specialist. What are Breast Pump Accessories? Breast pumps come with a series of plastic parts which typically include tubing, breastshields, collection containers with lids (bottles with lids), valves, membranes and sometimes other parts. If a mother rents a hospital grade breast pump she will need to purchase her own set of brand new accessories. Accessories can be sanitized between uses but should not be shared between mothers. Sharing accessories poses a risk for cross contamination between users. The accessories combined with the motor unit make up the breast pump "system". What is An "Open Accessory System?" A set of accessories that is designed in such a way that THERE IS NO BARRIER that prevents milk and other contaminants from entering into the breast pump tubing, accessories and even the motor. Once the contaminants are in the motor and tubing a direct result may be contaminated breast milk. What is A "Closed Accessory System"? A set of accessories that is designed in such a way that THERE IS A BARRIER that prevents milk and other contaminants from entering into the breast pump tubing, motor and accessories. Using a closed system is the best way to avoid contamination and potentially contaminated breast milk. Why is a Closed Accessory System Important? Using a closed system is the best way to avoid contaminating your expressed breast milk. In many instances, the exposure of contaminants to breastfeeding accessories and even the pump motor is not noticeable. There are a few visible signs of contamination - the most common being tubing is that it appears moldy or dirty tubing (on the inside.) This can be common with regular use in open system breast pumps. Unfortunately, before contamination was visible it was there...already contaminating your breast milk. What cannot be seen is just as real of a threat as the contamination you CAN see. Equally important is the proper handling of collection containers and sanitation while expressing. Is It Safe to Borrow or Buy a Used Breast Pump? Each mother should ALWAYS have her own new accessories and check with the manufacturer to find out if the motor unit she will be using is approved by the FDA for multiple users BEFORE she buys it or uses it to express milk. If the breast pump uses an open (or even a closed) accessory system and the motor unit is not hospital grade it should not be shared under any circumstances! Unfortunately, there is a misconception between mother’s everywhere that professional grade breast pumps can be safely shared if new accessories are purchased – THIS IS FALSE! Is There REALLY A Health Risk When Sharing a Pump? Yes - the health issues are serious enough that if you were to contact some of the more reputable manufacturer’s to order a new set of bottles and tubing for a used breast pump (not a hospital grade/rental grade pump), they will refuse to sell whats is needed unless she is the original purchaser. Manufacturer’s do not want to be legally responsible if a baby should become seriously ill from the use of a shared or “used” breast pump. You want the best for your baby, so it makes sense that your mother’s milk is what you have decided to feed your baby. When expressing and even nursing your baby, your breast milk milk can become contaminated. Milk purity should always be considered a top priority when nursing and pumping. Milk Purity is an especially important factor for mothers using hospital grade breast pumps and those pumping for premature or ill newborns who are at greater risk of succumbing to infection. A closed accessory system is important to insure milk purity! This is how it works it simple terms…
What Exactly Are "Contaminants"? Common contaminants include but are not limited to: pet dander, cigarette smoke, dust, mildew, mold, bacteria and many other things too small to be seen can cause sickness in infants! Contaminants also includes contaminants carried through breast milk. Sanitation Tips for Nursing and Pumping Mothers Contamination doesn't always come from your breast pump or accessories. Often a mother's hands can be a source as well. To avoid this we recommend the following:
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